Gothic Desert Wedding Shoot

Raquel Garcia
Oct 13, 2024
3 min read

Updated: Oct 15, 2024

Creative Women, Stunning Details, and Spooky Vibes at Cathedral Gorge

This gothic wedding desert shoot had been a vision in my head for a while, and I knew I wanted to bring together some seriously talented women to make it happen. After putting together a Pinterest mood board that captured the whole goth desert vibe, photographer Mattalynn Mason saw it and wanted in. She even suggested Cathedral Gorge as our location, which was perfect for the dramatic feel we were going for.

Shey, one of my lash clients, was a dream as the goth bride. She and her boyfriend, James, didn’t just model—they brought so much to the table by providing the dress, suit, and accessories they found on Amazon. It was a great reminder that you don’t need a huge budget to create something stunning. Shey's also added a necklace that she purchased on a recent trip to Salem, Massachusetts, another spooky touch.

My focus for Shey’s look was to keep her skin soft while adding some drama. I gave her a thick winged liner using Inglot liner in 77, and topped it all off with a stunning red lip, using Sephora Cream Lip Stains in shades 01 and 134.

The lip color was actually a last-minute decision—I made a quick run to Sephora before the 2.5-hour drive out to Pioche, Nevada, where Cathedral Gorge is. It ended up tying everything together and gave the whole shoot an extra level of drama.

Joanna Pena joined us to work her hair magic, giving Shey the softest waves, which perfectly balanced the edgier makeup and vibe of the shoot.

A big part of pulling together the goth aesthetic was the bouquet, created by Amorcito Corazon Florals owner Emily Soliz-Diaz. She crafted a beautiful arrangement featuring deep-hued dahlias and chrysanthemums, giving the whole shoot an even moodier, romantic feel.

Cathedral Gorge itself was absolutely breathtaking. The slot canyons are like something out of a gothic fairytale, and with the moon lined up in the sky just right, it added a dramatic touch that you couldn’t plan if you tried. An added detail is that Pioche is one of the most haunted places in Nevada, which made it an even more fitting location for our shoot.

But this shoot wasn’t without its hiccups! On the way to the gorge, Joanna’s car overheated. Luckily, we ran into a super helpful mechanic who got us back on the road.

When we finally arrived, it felt like everything was aligning. As the sun set from golden hour into blue hour, bats started flying around, adding the perfect spooky touch to the scene that we couldn’t have planned.

Between the incredible backdrop, the love between Shey and James, and all the little details (like that red lip!), this shoot turned into everything I hoped for. Our team came together in the best way to bring this goth desert dream to life, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we created.

Contributors:

Photography: Mattalynn Mason - mattalynnmasonphotography.com

Concept/Makeup: Raquel Garcia - ashfordbeaute.com

Hair: Joanna Pena - instagram.com/hairdressedbyj

Florist: Emily Soliz-DIaz - emily@Amorcitocorazonfloral.com or

(702) 604-6680

Models: Shey Moser and James White

If you’re a bride-to-be looking for a timeless bridal look or something with a bit more edge, I’d love to help bring your vision to life.

I offer makeup services in Las Vegas and beyond at Ashford Beaute

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